On A High Note: Goldfish & Arabyrd

“I wouldn’t say that I’m a DJ, I just play music...what I wanna f*ckin’ listen to. Seriously.” - Arabyrd

DJ Goldfish and singer/DJ Arabyrd from Malaysia have sure been busy. Besides being a hip hop and electro DJ (under stage name Goldtronic), and the organiser of parties as one half of Vice Modern Disco with Illkidd, he’s getting ready to take over the mic and debut as a rapper in his own right. Currently producing albums for Camelia and Hunny Madu, and having just returned to Zouk KL as a permanent resident, he’s also debuting his own clothing line called LAD, whose Autumn/Winter ‘08 collection will be inspired by Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ videos. Not one to quit while she’s ahead, mad, bad Arabyrd is planning to work with Goldfish, and Crunchtime Records from Austria with Al-Haca and Stereotyp, among other collaborators–all this while still holding her full-time job hosting radio show Capital Jams on Capital FM88.9. We caught hold of Goldfish and Arabyrd at U.O.X. Play in November to talk about what they love most–music.

What music were you really into when you were 12?
Goldfish Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men. I still liked hip hop but I went through a whole change once I learnt about music. I’m still into hip hop; my electro side is basically just fast-paced kind of sample music with a little tech and pop. Now locally I like Joe Flizzow, because we’ve been through a lot together. And of course Arabyrd, because we have similar tastes in music.
Arabyrd When I was a kid, it was a lot of acid jazz like Brand New Heavies and Incognito. I was a big fan of them … and James Brown. My influences are from my parents, I guess. Of course, I also went through the whole All Saints phase. Now I listen to a mix of everything, but I’m still into a lot of jazz. Locally I like Yuna and Zee Avi–Sarawak represent! Also Joe Flizzow and where he’s taking Malaysian hip hop. And Hujan–again Sarawak represent!

What’s the coolest music video you’ve seen on YouTube lately?
A There was one time when I was searching for a drum and bass MC online and I came across this video of a sermon in a church where they get into a trance. Basically it was a drum and bass track, and there was an MC and it really flowed well! It just goes to show that you can link music to just f*ckin’ anything.
G Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ in Tamil. That’s some funny sh*t.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given about music?
A My mum told me once “Think like a man.” I’m like “Yup, that’s what I’m gonna do.” A lot of people out there tell you, “You know, you’re a female so it’s gonna be hard for you.” But put me with up to ten male musicians and the person they’re gonna notice is me, you know.
G [DJ/VJ] Callen once said to me “You know what to do, lah, Fish.” (Everybody laughs.) So I figured it out.

Who do you have the best conversations with about music?
A Actually with Goldfish. But besides him, with my best friend Ari. He’s like a f*ckin’ music dictionary. You ask him anything from 1971 to what’s going on in 2009, he’ll be like, “This is what’s up….”
G Myself. And everyone just listens.

What was the first concert you ever went to?
G Vanilla Ice in KL in 1991 or something.
A Alanis Morissette. But my first local concert was the Ikhlas concert; it was the sh*t.

Who was your first music celebrity crush when you were young?
A I still have a very big crush on Q-Tip. Serious. I’m gonna marry that man one day.
G I don’t know, I can’t remember. Maybe Madonna.

Words April Photos Shermen
www.myspace.com/vicemoderndisco

*Taken from JUNK's December 2008 issue